Chapter 69 - Trouble Again
As I was still reprimanding Dudley while he proudly narrated his brash adventures with students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and even a few Ravenclaws around us, who seemed far more interested in celebrating than worrying about the house points that had been lost, I saw Harry entering the Great Hall.
Walking beside him were Ron Weasley and several other first-years. Harry looked excited rather than punished, which already told me Professor McGonagall had not been too harsh on him and has probably made him the Seeker, as I had expected.
But then I noticed Draco Malfoy intercepting them with Crabbe and Goyle. The two groups exchanged words.
I already knew what this conversation was likely about. The midnight duel. Or rather, the fake midnight duel. So I stayed where I was.
Even if I wanted to interfere, I was too far away by the time they had started talking.
A minute later Malfoy and his group walked away and Harry and his friends headed toward the Gryffindor table.
Then Harry spotted me. His face immediately brightened.
"Arthur!"
Before I could react, he jogged over.
"Arthur, did you hear what happened? I caught the Remembrall and then Professor McGonagall came and took me away and then-"
"Yes, yes," I interrupted. "I heard."
Harry blinked.
"You did?"
"I heard about the reckless flying. I heard about the window. And I heard about Dudley trying to start a war."
"That wasn't me!" Dudley protested.
"It was absolutely you."
More laughter followed. I looked back at Harry.
"What happened after Professor McGonagall took you away? Did she punish you?"
Harry suddenly became suspiciously cheerful.
"Nope."
"No detention or essays?"
"No."
"Then why did she call you?"
Harry grinned.
"It's a secret."
Several older students nearby immediately leaned closer.
"A secret?" I repeated.
Harry nodded proudly.
"I'll tell you later."
That answer alone told me everything and confirmed my guesses.
Professor McGonagall had recruited him for the Quidditch team. This canon event remained undefeated.
"Fine," I said. "But are you hurt?"
"No, I'm not hurt."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
I stood up anyway.
Harry groaned.
"Arthur..."
Ignoring him completely, I checked him from head to toe and front to back and from left to right
The nearby students were already laughing.
"He's treating Harry Potter like he's five," someone whispered.
"Like a mother hen," another student said.
Harry's ears turned red with embarassment.
"Arthur, stop!"
"Just checking." I don't care if he feels embarrassed, and continued my thing.
"I'm fine!"
"Hmm."
Only after confirming he had all his limbs attached did I sit back down. Then I fulfilled my duty as an elder brother.
Tap. My hand landed on the back of his head with little force.
"Ow!"
Harry immediately grabbed his head.
"What was that for?"
"That was for nearly recklessly flying and crashing through a window."
"I didn't crash through the window!"
"You almost did."
"It's not fair!"
Before I could answer, Dudley leaned forward with a grin.
"Welcome to the club, Harry."
Harry blinked.
"What club?"
"The Arthur Head-Tap Club."
The students burst out laughing.
I nodded solemnly.
"I do not discriminate between brothers. Everyone gets equal beating."
That made them laugh even harder. Some students nearly choked on their food. A few first-years stared at me in shock.
I suspected they were less surprised that I hit Harry and more surprised that Harry Potter allowed it.
Then Fred and George Weasley appeared from nowhere. As usual.
The twins exchanged identical looks.
"Did you hear that, George?"
"I did, Fred."
"No discrimination between brothers."
"A noble policy."
"A beautiful policy."
"A policy we should uphold."
Before Ron could react-
Tap.
Fred smacked the back of Ron's head.
Tap.
And George followed immediately.
Ron nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Ow!"
The twins looked innocent.
"No discrimination," Fred said.
"None whatsoever," George agreed.
"You were with Harry."
"So naturally."
"You deserve one too."
Ron clutched his head.
"That doesn't even make sense!"
"It makes perfect sense."
"Arthur said so."
"It's practically a law."
Ron pointed accusingly at me.
"I'll tell Mum!"
The twins looked horrified.
"George."
"Yes, Fred?"
"He's telling Mum again."
"A tragic betrayal."
"A family tradition."
The surrounding students were laughing so hard that several couldn't continue eating. Even I had to fight back a grin. Poor Ron looked personally victimized by the entire Weasley family.
Once the laughter settled slightly, I looked toward Harry.
"What were you talking about with Malfoy just now?"
The mood changed immediately. Harry and Ron exchanged a glance.
"Nothing," Harry said.
"Just talking," Ron added quickly.
"Talking?"
"Yes."
"Nothing important."
"Nothing at all."
Their answers were so suspicious that they practically admitted guilt. Unfortunately for them, Hermione Granger chose that moment to speak.
"They made a bet."
Both boys froze.
Ron looked horrified.
Hermione continued.
"They agreed to-"
"Hermione!"
Ron immediately clapped a hand over her mouth.
"It was nothing!"
"Mmph!"
"Absolutely nothing!"
"MMPH!"
I was trying very hard not to laugh.
Ron grabbed Hermione's arm.
"Come on."
Hermione pulled back.
"Ronald Weasley!"
"Later!"
"I'm telling him!"
"No you're not!"
Harry pointed at me.
"I'll explain later, Arthur!"
Then the three of them hurried away.
Hermione continued protesting the entire time, but Ron continued dragging her away. Harry faithfully followed them while Hermione hit Ron's arm repeatedly.
I watched them disappear. Then I started laughing. Some things really never changed.
I looked down at Dudley. He had wisely resumed eating and was pretending none of this involved him.
I patted his shoulder.
"It's good nobody got hurt today."
Dudley nodded.
"But don't start fights."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
He raised one hand.
"I swear."
Then he added, "Unless others start it."
I closed my eyes. Around us, several students immediately started laughing again.
"Dudley."
"Yes?"
"Especially if others start it."
He blinked.
"Why?"
"Because it might be a trap or a set up."
"Oh!"
"You do have a brain."
"Of course I do."
"So try using it occasionally."
That earned another wave of laughter. Dudley lowered his head and returned to eating while trying very hard not to smile.
This year at Hogwarts would not be peaceful. I had dealt with the two troubles Dudley and Harry had made, and was prepared for other trouble which would happen later tonight. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dudley, Malfoy and the midnight duel. Followed by their trespassing on that floor.
End of Chapter 69 - Trouble again